Multicompartment cabinet.



GEORGE ROBBINS,

0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

MULTICOMPARTMENT CABINET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

Application filed October 7, 1911. Serial No. 653,358.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ROBBINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multicompartment Cabinets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved and highly efficient multi-compartment cabinet, in which access may be had to any one compartment, but to only one compartment at a time.

To the above ends, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation with some parts broken away, showing a multi-compartment cabinet designed in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 00 m of Fig. 1.

The body or case 1 of the cabinet is shown as in the form of a rectangular box having a hinged door 2 in front, and provided within with a multiplicity of compartments formed by laterally spaced partitions 3, which at their front edges, terminate considerably inward of the door 2. Secured in the upper portion of each compartment 4 formed between the partitions 3 is a block 5 to which an upwardly spring-pressed lock hook 6 is pivoted.

The opening at the front of each stall 4 is normally closed by a retaining strip or gate 7, preferably constructed of metal, and pivoted on a transverse rod 8 secured to the sides of the case 1 near the lower front portion. thereof. These retaining strips 7 are closely located side by. side, and at their free upper ends, they are formed with inwardly projecting look hooks or heads 9 that are normally engaged and held by the respective lock hooks 6. The so-called retaining strips 7 are provided with inwardly turned flanges 7 a that adapt them to hold a removable index strip or marker 10. Normally, all of the hooks 6 engage the cooperating hooks 9 and look all of the retaining strips 7 in their closed position. To provide for releasing any one of the retaining strips, or compartment closures, I extend a fixed rod 11 transversely between the sides of the case 1 and through the partitions 3 a short distance above the free upper ends of the said retaining strips 7, and on this rod a lock releaser 12 is mounted for both pivotal and for lateral sllding movements. WVhen this releaser 12 is moved into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, it will engage the alined lock hook 6, depress the same into a releasing position, and then force the released retaining strip outward so that access may be had to the contents of the open compartment. When the releaser '12 is in the position shown by dotted lines, its upturned end is forced under a guard strip 13 secured to the top of the case, and so that it can not then be gripped readily by the fingers. When, however, the released retaining strip 7 is forced back into its closed position, it will press the said retainer outward so that its upper end may be easily engaged by the fingers.

When the retaining strip 7 is in an open position, it is evident that the releaser 12 can not be moved from one compartment to another, and hence, can not be used to open a second compartment while another compartment is still open. When, however, all of the retaining strips 7 are in closed positions, the releas'er 12 may be turned pivotally into the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 2 and it may then be slid laterally into alinement with any one of the compartments for action to release any one of the retaining strips 7.

When the releaser 12 is in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, it holds the engaged lock hook 6 pressed downward and the latter, by frictional engagement therewith, assists in holding the said retainer in its said position. When the retaining strip 7 is forced back to its closed position, its lock hook or projection 9 automatically ree'ngages with the said lock hook 6 and automatically presses the releaser 12 toward its inverted position, shown by full lines in Fig. 2. The index strip or markers 10, will, of course, be marked with various memorandum, names, or the like, to indicate the contents of the several compartments.

A cabinet of the character above described may be used for a great many dilferent purposes, a few of which may be mentioned as follows :for holding phonograph disks or records, books, file's, and various records. For these various different uses the case and the compartments of-the cabinet will, of course, be made of appropriate dimensions.

What I claim is:

1. In a multi-compartmentcabinet, the

. partments and movable closures therefor, of

individual locks for the several closures, and a pivoted laterally movable releaser common to all of said locks and operative, to release said closures, one at a time.

combination with a multiplicity of compartments and movable closures therefor, of individual locks for the several closures, and a pivoted laterally movable releaser common to all of said locks and operative to release said closures, one at a time, the said locks serving ,tohold said'releaser in an operative position while the corresponding closure is moved in an open position, and the said closure when returned to closed position serving to move said closure toward its normal position, and which closure when in normal position is movable laterally for alinement with any of said locks.

for holding individual account" 3. In a multi-compartment cabinet, the- 4; In a multi-compartment cabinet, the combination with a multiplicity of compartments and a multiplicity of pivoted retaining strips for closing the same, said retaining strips having lock projections at their free ends, spring-pressed lock hooks in the said compartments cooperating with the lock projections on-saidclosures, and a common "lockreleaser mounted for sliding movements into alinement withany of said lock hooks, and mounted for pivotal movements to release the alined lock hook.

5. In a multi-compartment cabinet, the combination with a multiplicity ofcompartments and a multiplicity of pivoted-retalning strips for closing thesame, said retainingv strips having lock projections at their free ends, spring-pressed-lock hooks in the said comp the lock projection on: said closures, and-a common lock releaser mounted for-sliding movements into alinement with anyofrsaid lock hooks, and mounted for pivotal move ments to release the alined lock hook, the said spring-pressed. lock hooks serving. to hold the engaged releaser in its operative position whilethe correspondingclosure isv moved 1nto an open pos1t1on,and--the said.

closure when moved intoits closed position servlng to move said releaser toward its normal position. i I

Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE'ROBBINS; Witnesses BERNIOE G. WHEELER,- HARRY D. KILsoRn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,-

artments cooperating; with 

